“It’s time I leave the village, Mother.”

Naesala’s mother looks up from her dinner and sighs.

“I knew this day would come soon.”

“You did?”

“Of course I did, silly. I raised you from a little green bean into the beautiful young woman you are today. I know it’s not been easy when you look different.”

“You know I hate that nickname.”

She sighs and stands up.

”Yes, I know, but it’s so cute.”

Naesala pouts as her mother hugs her.

“I’m glad you told me and didn’t just leave me without saying goodbye.”

“I wouldn’t do that, Mom.”

“You can never be sure, sweetie. I did it when I was younger, after all.”

“You did?”

“I did. We can talk about that at a later time. For now, let’s talk about your departure.”

Naesala and her mother stood near the city gate next to a large caravan a week later.

“Do you have everything?”

“Yes, Mother. The answer will be the same every time you ask.”

“A mother can worry.”

“I have to go. The caravan is about to leave.”

“Be safe, my little green bean.”

Naesala rolled her eyes with a sigh.

“Yes, Mother, I know.”

As the caravan left, Nasesala watched the town until it disappeared in the distance, her mother waving until she could no longer be seen.

Naesala felt a nervous excitement bubble up inside her.

“I’m on my own now.”

Two days later, they left the forest and recently passed the border.

“Naesala! Come help set up camp!”

“Coming!”

The campo fire roared to life as Naesala used the little fire magic she could.

“Agh!”

“Ah!”

Naesala looked up as multiple cries of pain rang out.

“Surround them, kill the men!”

“Slave traders!”

Dozens of bandits in old leather armor rush out of the forest.

“Ah!”

“Boss, there’s an elf woman with green skin!”

A huge man stepped out of the trees wearing metal armor and a greatsword.“Oh? Where? I see, and she is a beauty. She will be worth a fortune.”

Caught by surprise, most of the elves were left defenseless and were killed or captured. Those still with their weapons were taken out first in the surprise attacks with arrows or were quickly outnumbered.

Naesala paled and ran, trying to help a man who took an arrow to the leg.

A bandit raised their bow and aimed at Naesala. The bow was slapped out of his hands by a better-dressed bandit.

“Idiot! She’s worth a fortune! If you hurt her, the boss will kill you!”

The bandit glanced at his boss and shivered under his boss’s glare.

“I- I know! I was aiming for the guy!”

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Two bandits quickly catch up to Naesala and the limping elf.

“Naesala, I’m not going to make it! Just run!”

The elf pushed Naesala away and tackled the two bandits to the ground.

Tears fell from Naesala’s eyes, “Baelenorn!”

“I said run! Agh!”

Naesala looks behind her as she runs, seeing Baelenorn thrown off and impaled by a sword.

“Come back here, you bitch!”

Naesala gained distance and used her nature magic to hide her tracks and stall her pursuers.

I can’t run anymore. This has to be far enough.

Naesala used magic to make a hole large enough for her to crawl under a large tree. She moved the dirt back and erased any signs of it being disturbed. The only indication she was there was the winding hole she made for air, which didn’t feel enough with her exhaustion.

“Ha, ha.”

Under multiple feet of dirt, Naesala couldn’t see her pursuers anymore, but she could feel them growing closer through the use of her magic.

A half dozen bandits lagged around the area, looking for her figure. They soon split into three groups of two; two split off in different directions, and one stayed behind to search the area.

When one of the bandits got within a couple of feet of the tree, she held her breath.

Any longer, and I was going to pass out!

Naesala took several seeds and used her magic to force them to mature into full-fledged natural bug repellants. Draining clean water from the tree with magic, Naesala drank her fill and fell asleep with an empty stomach.

Naesala crawled out of her hole, greeting the rising sun with her dirt-covered body and messy hair. She looked around like a small herbivore on the watch for predators.

They’re probably still looking for me. I can’t go back home. They’ll be looking for me.

Naesala noted the sun's position and headed towards it, traveling East with heavy shoulders.

Naesala walked east for over two weeks, avoiding any settlements she came across. She survived on any wild plants and small critters she came across with the help of her magic. The two weeks have pushed Naesala’s mind and body to the limit, even causing her to hallucinate voices and figures no longer with her.

‘You left us to die!’

‘Why do only you get to live!’

‘This isn’t fair!’

“They’re not real. They’re not real. You’re not real!”

Naesala screamed at her hallucinations and flailed her arms. She fell into a seated position and cried into her hands.

“You’re not real.”

‘Traitor!’

Naesala made it inside a random city a few days later, making herself as presentable as possible. The guards eyed the dirty elf with green skin, and she mumbled to herself strangely.

“We don’t have any rooms available.”

“We’re fully booked.”

“We don’t have any availability.”

Every inn turned Naesala away sternly, claiming they had no spare rooms. The quality of the inns quickly deteriorated as Naesala finally found an inn that would take her in.

“Yeah, we have rooms available—a silver a night, not including meals, and paid upfront. This establishment is not liable for lost property. I recommend not bothering other patrons; some may have a questionable history. Here you go, up the stairs and the second door on the right.”

Naesala handed over a silver and copper coin for the room and meal. Most of her belongings were lost as she fled, but she luckily still has the common coins her mother earned in her travels when she was young.

“Do you… have a bath?”

“For an additional copper coin, I can have someone bring some hot water to your room.”

Naesala handed over a couple of copper coins.

“Thank you. The water will be brought shortly.”

Naesala left, receiving various stares from other patrons as she headed for her room. Scattering some tiny seeds outside her room, Naesala eagerly awaited a hot meal and bath.

Naesala awoke as the magic on her seeds outside the door was disturbed. She was already dressed when she heard the soft click of her door lock. The intruder tried to open the door gently, but the chair pushed against it blocked it.

“What the?!”

The intruders suddenly found themselves trapped in thick vines as the tiny seeds rapidly grew. Naesala removed the chair and opened the door, looking at her intruders coldly as the vines tightened.

“Arg!”

“Agh!”

The intruders cried as their bones creaked in protest. The commotion attracted several customers, including the same inn worker she had met earlier.

“What’s going on?” He demanded.

“They broke into my room.”

“I’ll call the guards, just lay up, alright? You might kill them, and that could complicate things for you.”

Naesala slightly loosened the vines and waited for the guards as people returned to their rooms. The inn worker returned with a couple of guards, and they took the two intruders away.

“Are you an adventurer, miss?”

“Adventurer?”

“You don’t know? I thought for sure you were. Adventurers do all kinds of jobs, from picking plants to trash removal and monster or bandit extermination. It’s a challenging occupation, and only the strong can make any actual money.”

Naesala did some mental calculations of her remaining money.

“How do I become an adventurer?”

“If you don’t have any more questions, it’s one silver coin to join, and you must complete this application.” The male guild receptionist stated, “If you can’t read, I’d be more than happy to assist you in filling it out.”

“I can write.”

Naesala filled out the application and handed it back to the receptionist along with a silver coin.

“Everything seems to be in order. I’ll be right back with your new guild card.”

The receptionist quickly returned with a blank copper metal card and handed her a needle.

“Here you go. Now, it needs a drop of blood to bind to you.”

Already understanding from his previous explanation, Naesala pricked her finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the card. The blood was absorbed into the card, and with a slight shimmer, her face and information appeared on the card. Naesala already knew what to expect but was still surprised when she saw it.

“And remember not to lose it. They are expensive to replace.”

Naesala nodded and walked over to the job board, looking for a job with a copper or even bronze rank, the highest rank she could take. She took a job collecting some common herbs and brought them back to the receptionist.

“I’d like this job.”